Ignition distributor



Oct. 29, 1935. M. MALLORY 2,019,427

IGNITION DISTRIBUTOR 'F'iled July 9, 1934 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED'ASTATES PATENT oFF CE Applica ifif ril y fiflll 5 Claims.

This invention relates to ignition distributors for internal combustion engines and its primary object is to mount the rotor in such a manner that the blade always revolves in a true plane with a resultant steady and uniform operation, regardless of any imperfection in the machined members or any wear thereon.

The construction by which the desired result is attained will be particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which,.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken diametrically of a distributor constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2, looking downwardly.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line 3-3, looking upwardly.

As illustrated in the drawing, the distributor housing 5 is provided with a cap 6 which is adapted to be held in place by clips I engaging projections 8 on the cap rim. The timer shaft 9 is disposed centrally of the housing 5 and is provided with a, sleeve l adapted to be adjusted in the usual manner circumferentially of the shaft to advance or retard the spark. A rotor ll of insulating material is keyed to the sleeve l0 and carries a metallic blade I2. The top I3 of the cap 6 is provided with a central socket I4 adapted to receive the main high tension lead, and with a plurality of sockets l5 near its periphery to receive the high tension leads to the respective spark plugs. A rubber pad I6 is compressed against the top I3 so as to tightly grasp the leads and form a waterproof seal.

The cap 6 is formed with a central hub or boss I], with its lower surface l8 forming a seat, against which the rotor II is yieldably held by a spring l9 within the upper end of the sleeve ID. A central brush 20 is held in engagement with the rotor blade l2 by a spring 2|, which is materially weaker than the spring IS.

The high tension current has a circuit through the central lead to the terminal 22, thence through the spring 2| and brush 20 to the rotor blade I2, which rotates in a horizontal plane. As the blade l2 revolves it passes in close proximity to but does not actually contact with the terminals 23, which are connected with the respective spark plugs.

In the operation of the invention, the rotor is held centrally against the seat l8 by the spring l9, so that the blade l2 revolves in a true horizontal plane and the gap between the plane of the blade and the several terminals 23 remains constant, regardless of any diametrical wear or imperfect fitting between the shaft 9 and the sleeve l0 or between the latter and the rotor ll. Indeed, the looser the fit between these parts, the more certainly is the blade l2 held in a uniform plane. As a result of the invention, there- 5 fore, less precision is required in production and the distributor is better adapted for long and continuous use. Under all conditions, the frictional engagement between the rotor and the hub ll serves to reduce vibrational disturbances of the rotating members.

I claim:

1. A distributor comprising a housing with a removable cap, a shaft disposed centrally of the housing, a rotor supported by said shaft and having a metallic blade, said cap having a central boss projecting toward the rotor, a spring acting between the shaft and the rotor and exerting pressure on the latter, whereby the rotor blade has a thrust bearing on the end of the boss and go is guided thereby in a uniform plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, regardless of any play between the rotor and said shaft, and spark plug terminals in the top of the cap slightly 2. A distributor comprising a housing with a removable cap, a shaft disposed centrally of the housing, a rotor supported by said shaft and having a metallic blade, said cap having a central boss projecting toward the rotor, a central brush 3() within the boss contacting with the blade, electric terminals projecting downwardly from the top of the cap near the periphery thereof, and

a spring between the shaft and the rotor and exerting pressure on the latter, whereby the blade 5 has a thrust bearing on the end of the boss and is guided thereby in a uniform plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, regardless of any play between the rotor and said shaft.

3. A distributor comprising a housing with a removable cap, a shaft disposed centrally of the housing, a sleeve on the upper end of the shaft,

a rotor carried by the sleeve and having a metallic blade, said cap having a central boss projecting toward the rotor, a spring within the up- 5 per end of the sleeve acting between the end of the shaft and the rotor and exerting pressure on the latter, whereby the blade has athrust bearing on the end of the boss and is guided thereby in a uniform plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, regardless of any play between the rotor and the shaft, and spark plug terminals in the top of the cap slightly spaced from the plane of the rotor blade.

4. A distributor comprising a housing with a 66 removable cap, a shaft disposed centrally of the housing, a sleeve on the upper end of the shaft,

a rotor carried by the sleeve and having a metallic blade, said cap having a central boss projecting toward the rotor, at central brush within the boss and contacting with the blade, electric terminals projecting downwardly from the top of. thecap near its periphery, and a spring within the upper end of the sleeve and exerting upward pressureon said roton whereby the blade has a thrust .bearingon the end of the has so that the blade revolves in a uniform plane perpendicular to the axis of the shaft, thereby maintaining a constant gap between the peripheral terminals and the path of the blade.

5. A distributor comprising a rotor with a metallic blade extending radially from the axis of the rotor, a housing for the rotor, a cap for the housing, a brush disposed centrally of the cap, electric terminals in the top of the cap at the periphery thereof, said cap being embossedto present a rubbing surface about its central portion only, a spring exerting upward pressure against said rotor, whereby the blade has a thrust bearing against said rubbing surface, said rubbing surface being so disposed that it maintains a uniform gap between the path of the blade and the respective terminals.

MARION MALLORY. 

